Do dogs dream?

Many scientists believe that there is evidence to support the idea that dogs do in fact dream. Scientists using an electroencephalogram have tested canine brain wave activity during sleep. They've found that dogs are similar to humans when it comes to sleep patterns and brain wave activity.
Like humans dogs enter a deep sleep stage, during this period their breathing becomes more irregular and they have rapid eye movements. It is during the rapid eye movements sleep period that dreaming and often involuntary movements take place. Dogs may move their legs as if they were actually running, whine or whimper as if excited, breathe rapidly, or even hold their breath for short periods of time.Not all dogs dream equally. Research tends to suggest that small dogs dream more than larger dogs. Dreaming also seems to occur more frequently in puppies. This might be because they are processing huge quantities of newly acquired experiences.

What do dogs dream about? It's likely that dogs dream in a similar fashion to humans, replaying the everyday activities that make up their lives, like chasing, playing, and eating.

If you've ever been tempted to wake your dog during a dream, try to resist. It's best to "let sleeping dogs lie." Dogs, like humans, need uninterrupted sleep for healthy mental activity.